Soon, Qingge created another opportunity for the ‘secret guard Qingge’ to visit ‘Ning Wangfei.’ Sure enough, Luo Momo hurriedly came over, pulling her aside for a private conversation.
Luo Momo was clearly adept at handling people. She held onto Qingge and spoke with heartfelt sincerity, lamenting how the Wangfei wasn’t particularly approachable in the past. With a sigh, she said, “Miss Qingge, if there’s ever anything you need, just let me know. I’ll do my best to handle it thoroughly.”
Qingge, knowing very well of the momo’s intention to pull her into their rank, easily played along. “Thank you in advance, Luo Momo. I’ll rely on your guidance in the future.”
“Of course, of course.” Pleased with Qingge’s response, Luo Momo declared boldly, “You and I both serve Her Highness, so there’s no need for formalities. Here, I have a small token for you—please accept it.”
With that, she handed over the prepared gold ornaments to Qingge, who did not bother with pretense and accepted them without hesitation. After leaving Ninghe Courtyard, she first headed to her secret hideout in the suburbs, stashing away the more valuable pieces and keeping only the two least valuable ones, planning to present them to Ye Min during her report.
Kneeling before Ye Min, she dutifully reported the things she had done and observed while guarding the Wangfei. She was careful to maintain a composed and neutral demeanor. At the end of her report, she showed him the two gold ornaments she had selected beforehand.
Ye Min glanced at the items laid before him. “Did the Wangfei give you these?”
“No, they’re not from the Wangfei,” Qingge replied. After a brief pause, she added, “They were given to me by Luo Momo, who serves Her Highness. She is quite affable and speaks warmly, apparently in an attempt to win me over. This subordinate didn’t want to refuse outright and risk offending her, so I accepted them.”
“Luo Momo is a long-time servant of the Xiahou clan, so it’s no surprise she’s trying to win people over for her mistress,” Ye Min nodded. He then asked again, “What about the Wangfei? How does she seem?”
“Her Highness has a good temperament but doesn’t seem to appreciate having a guard nearby. She asked this subordinate a few questions, and I got the sense that she finds my presence unwelcome.”
Ye Min responded indifferently, “This Wangfei is proud and not easy to get along with.”
Qingge hesitated for a moment, but still tried to probe: “Pavilion Master, is there some prior grievance between you and Her Highness? This subordinate couldn’t help but notice a hint of displeasure and rejection in her words.”
Ye Min replied dismissively, “She’s just a boudoir woman. How could I have any grievance against her? What matters is that she is the daughter of the Xiahou, a clan with ambitious designs. This marriage alliance is undoubtedly a calculated move on their part, so I have to remain vigilant.”
Then Qingge saw him furrowing his brows. “His Highness has always been wise and not one to indulge in frivolous affections, but ever since his marriage, he’s been overly lenient with his Wangfei.”
Qingge: “…”
After a moment of speechlessness, she tentatively spoke up, “Perhaps things aren’t quite that simple. From what this subordinate has gathered, Her Highness seems somewhat dissatisfied with His Highness…”
Ye Min dismissed this. “It’s just the arrogance of a highborn woman. Pay it no mind.”
“…Understood.” Qingge lowered her head slightly, concealing the delight. ‘It seems like my reputation for arrogance had firmly taken root within the manor.’
‘Perfect. I’ll keep it that way!’
“Now that you’re serving at the Wangfei’s side, you must be extra cautious not to give her any leverage over you.” Ye Min continued. “Avoid creating unnecessary complications.”
He paused briefly before adding, “His Highness is wise and just, but the Wangfei is his consort, after all, so it’s inevitable that he had to give her some leeway. If something goes wrong, it will inevitably implicate you.”
Qingge listened attentively and replied with a respectful tone, “Yes, sir, this subordinate understands. I will proceed carefully.”
Ye Min nodded. “You’ve always been meticulous, so I’m not worried. In the future, you don’t need to report to me as frequently—just come by once a month to check in. If Wangfei people give you anything, accept it to avoid suspicion.”
Feigning surprise, Qingge hesitated briefly before agreeing, “Subordinate obeys the order.”
Ye Min then shifted the topic, “How is the poison in your body?”
“Most of it has been neutralized,” she replied. “However, some traces still linger in my body, and they have proven difficult to expel completely.”
“Give me your wrist.”
Qingge stood up and stepped forward, offering her wrist to him.
Ye Min raised his hand, his fingertips resting lightly on her artery as he closed his eyes to examine her condition carefully. A moment later, he declared, “It seems there are no major issues. Only some residual poison remains. As the saying goes, illness strikes like a landslide but recedes like silk threads unraveling. The same applies to poison. Just be cautious and take care of yourself.”
Qingge replied, “Understood.”
Ye Min continued, “Handle this assignment well, and once we return from the capital, I will petition His Highness to remove your slavery status, grant you official household registration, and allow you to withdraw from the pavilion. How does that sound?”
“Will His Highness agree?” Qingge asked, somewhat skeptical. Previously, she had been forced to leave because of her injuries and poison, which had sapped most of her martial arts. Now that the poison was gone and her abilities restored, would Ning Wang easily allow her to quit?
Ye Min’s expression remained cool as he countered, “How would His Highness know whether your poison is fully cured?”
Qingge was taken aback by his unspoken implication—Ye Min intended to keep this from Ning Wang. This was unexpected, considering Ye Min had always been unwaveringly loyal to his liege.
Seeing her astonishment, Ye Min spoke slowly. “Even if he finds out, what of it? Though he won’t say it aloud, he feels some guilt for wronging you back then. I will make the case to him and ensure you are allowed to quit.”
Hearing this, Qingge felt genuinely moved. If Ye Min wasn’t simply dangling a carrot in front of her and would fulfill his promise, she would be deeply grateful.
She dropped to one knee and said, “Thank you, Pavilion Master!”
…
After leaving Qianying Pavilion, Qingge made a stop at her room in the secret guard quarters to pick up some belongings. This time, she made a point of heading back openly, though she refrained from carrying a large bundle that might arouse suspicion. Instead, she took only a few essential items to keep on her person.
As she was about to leave, she noticed a black-clad figure standing quietly beneath the eaves, sword in hand. It was Baizhi. Dressed in all black, Baizhi stood under the eaves like a statue, clutching his sword, his eyes half-lowered as he gazed into the distance. He didn’t even glance at Qingge as she passed by; his eyes remained fixed on some far-off point.
Qingge approached him. She was actually reluctant since she had no desire to form further ties with any secret guard from the Qianying Pavilion. Now that she had resolved to leave, she was even more determined to sever all connections cleanly.
The secret guards of the Qianying Pavilion carried out all manner of tasks on behalf of their master, both in the light and in the dark. Those who left the pavilion were granted the life they desired—retired, free to live their days in peace. Consequently, an unspoken agreement existed: those who left would collectively forget their former lives, never bringing up their past again, and henceforth maintain the appearance of ordinary citizens forever.
This was why Qingge wanted nothing more to do with the people here.
But Baizhi had, after all, given her ginseng. In her eighteen years of life, Qingge had experienced very little warmth. Even the smallest kindness she received was something she had fought for with her life.
A decades-old ginseng root was no trivial gift.
“Thank you,” Qingge stopped in front of Baizhi and said to him.
Baizhi didn’t look at her. His gaze remained fixed in the distance, where trained hawks belonged to the manor soared high in the clear sky. He said flatly, “No need.”
“But why are you waiting here?” Qingge asked. “Don’t you want to hear me say thank you?”
As her question hung in the air, another voice interrupted with a laugh, “Qingge, you’re mistaken to think that.”
Qingge looked over and saw a woman leaning casually against the edge of the roof. The woman had a seductive figure, a feminine demeanor, and a pair of alluring peach blossom eyes that seemed to hold an irresistible charm. The sunlight spilled across the green glazed tiles, and she stood there like a peony blooming in the spring light—enchanting, radiant, and dazzlingly beautiful.
It was Wanzhao.
Qingge greeted her lightly, “It’s been a while.”
Wanzhao chuckled softly. “He didn’t know you’d be coming back. He’s just happened to be here, basking in the sun.” As she spoke, she cast a sidelong glance at Baizhi. “Am I right?”
Baizhi, expressionless and unmoved, didn’t even glance at Wanzhao. “Yes, you’re right.”
Wanzhao covered her mouth and smirked.
Qingge said, “You two continue basking in the sun. I’ll take my leave.”
Wanzhao, however, called out, “It’s been so long since we last met, don’t you want to catch up?”
Qingge replied, “Didn’t we already just do that?”
Wanzhao clicked her tongue, “How heartless!”
Turning to Baizhi, she said, “See? You keep thinking about her, but she doesn’t necessarily think about you. I’ve told you before—she’s heartless.”
Baizhi remained indifferent, showing no reaction.
“If there’s anything important, you can look for me near the Wangfei’s courtyard,” Qingge said. With that, she leaped away and departed.
While she was wary of Baizhi, she was even more cautious around Wanzhao. Wanzhao excelled at deception, and beneath her charming exterior lay an inscrutable face and intentions that no one could guess.
Especially now, with all the tangled mess she had gotten herself into, Qingge knew she had even more reason to avoid the two.
< Previous | TOC | Advanced TOC | Next >
Wants more chapters?
Click this page for the status of sponsored chapters.
Click this page for advanced chapters TOC.